Thanks to all who attended and made the T&S of Culture such a success. We especially wish to thank Arapahoe Community College Foundation for their sponsorship, and Applejack Wine & Spirits for providing outstanding wines and beer paired with delicious food from the following restaurants:

Please visit these wonderful donors and thank them for supporting Immigrant Pathways Colorado!

Marvelous Time at the August 23 Taco Bar FundraiserRain was threatening – but Immigrant Pathways Colorado had our very own weatherman present, and he promised us no more than a sprinkle.

Sure enough, IPC’s taco bar and silent auction fundraiser the evening of August 24, 2016, went off with nary a hitch at Platte River Bar & Grill on South Santa Fe Boulevard.

Dave Aguilera, Channel 4 weatherman, who graciously volunteered to be our emcee for the evening, provided delightful entertainment along with the beautifully upbeat band, Brighten Star.

Board members all pitched in to make the evening a success, but special thanks is due to Amy Conklin and Michele Wolf for their extraordinary work in gathering amazing silent auction items. (One special item, a patio fireplace, was finally purchased in a very funny last-minute bidding frenzy between two guests, who laughingly bid each other up time after time for a great charitable cause.)

The food was great, as one would expect at Platte River Bar & Grill. Both the food and band were provided by Pancho (Frank Redman), manager of the long-time favorite Littleton hangout. His terrific support was central to making the evening a success. Next time you’re there, ask for Pancho and thank him for supporting Immigrant Pathways Colorado!

A shout-out also to the businesses, organizations and individuals who donated items to the auction. They include:

African Eyes Travel

Arapahoe Community College

Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Autawash Carwash and Detail Center

Café Terracotta

Canvas and Cocktails

Chocolate Therapist

C.J. Culllinan

Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Railroad Museum

Colorado Symphony

Comedy Works

Denver Aquarium

Denver Art Museum

Denver Film Society

Denver Zoo

Dinosaur Ridge

FirstBank

Hacienda Colorado

Jazz Car Wash and Detailing

Kroenke Sports Enterprises

Kwik Car Wash

Lehrer’s Fireplace and Patio

LiDo Wines

Karen Martin

Mellow Mushroom

Nancy Rupert

Romano’s Italian Restaurant

Saj Mediterranean Grill

The Sebastian, Vail

Smokin Fins

South Suburban Park & Recreation District

Town Hall Arts Center

Village Roaster

Whole Foods Market – Southglenn

Wild Ginger

Marylin Withers – World of Dance

Rebecca Yarbrough

Thanks to each of these merchants, individuals and organizations for their support!

LI3 Changes its Name at a Donor Appreciation Luncheon

The Donor Appreciation Luncheon held by the Littleton Immigrant Integration Initiative (LI3) on April 21 was deemed by all to be a great success. The free luncheon, held to thank those who have supported the initiative since its inception in 2009, was “sold out,” with 70 reservations.

During the luncheon, Chair Susan Thornton described the evolution of the LI3 from an initiative focused just on Littleton to one that is helping documented, low-income immigrants and refugees from around the world and across the metro area with “self-development” grants designed to raise the standard of living of the immigrant family and make them feel more a part of the community.

To reflect its broader, more inclusive vision, Ms. Thornton announced that the initiative was changing its name to Immigrant Pathways Colorado.

The keynote speaker at the luncheon was Helen Thorpe, who described the six years she followed four Mexican-American high school girls in Denver before writing “Just Like Us: Four Mexican Girls Coming of Age in America.” This very moving documentary follows the girls, all very bright and high achievers, as they approach the end of their high school years and seek to go to college. Two of the girls are documented, and two were brought without documents to the U.S. as young children by their parents, thus severely limiting their ability to fully participate in the American dream.

Ms. Thorpe’s second book, Soldier Girls: The Battles of Three Women at Home and at War, followed three women soldiers as they returned from deployment in Afghanistan. The book is being made into an HBO documentary. To watch a video of Ms. Thorpe’s presentation, click here.

“I am very grateful for the grant as it is a big help to obtain my DACA. This is important to because this is my opportunity to finish what I started. I am/will be able to finish my career. It is a nursing career. I love to help people and being bilingual this will give me a bigger opportunity to help out in a better way. Thank you so much for helping me on my way to a better life.” ~ Olivia from Mexico, a nursing student who was brought by her parents to the U.S. without documents as a child